Last season the Tulane Green Wave played football games in Shreveport, La., Baton Rouge, La., Ruston, La., Lafayette, La., Monroe, La. and Mobile, Ala.

And those were the home games.

After being displaced by Hurricane Katrina last August, the nomadic Green Wave — which has played its last 16 games in 15 different stadiums — returns home this weekend. For the first time since Dec. 4, 2004 home actually means home.

No more entering sparsely-filled stadiums to polite applause. No more playing in front of supportive strangers, who'd like for you to win but won't lose sleep over a loss. No more feeling like you just don't belong.

The return is so anticipated that the cover of Tulane's media guide features a photo of the Louisana Superdome with the caption: "Back Home in the Dome."

A big crowd is expected for Saturday's game against SMU.

"It feels like you're part of a Division I football program," Tulane coach Chris Scelfo said of the atmosphere surrounding Tulane's return home. "This is what the kids here signed up for. It's important that we are back and having them have the experience of what it should be like."

That experience sure beats what the Green Wave endured a year ago after Hurricane Katrina hit on Aug. 29. The levees that protected New Orleans from flooding broke the next day.

Scelfo took his team to Jackson, Miss., then Dallas and then Ruston, La. In Dallas, a hotel ballroom was used as a locker room and chairs were used as lockers.

Normally, players would have been studying game plans and learning tendencies of opponents. Instead, they were worrying about families and what remained of their homes.

Although New Orleans is getting back to normal, there are some players on the Tulane roster still affected by Katrina — whether their homes were damaged or their families were displaced.

"There are a lot of guys on the team (whose lives) won't be back to normal for a long time," Scelfo said. "But we can't concern ourselves with the past. We have to worry about the present.

RETURNING TO DOME

Tulane has played 14 games in 13 different stadiums since Hurricane Katrina. The Green Wave finally return home to the Superdome on Saturday. Tulane's very long road trip:

2005

Date

Opponent

Site

Score

Sept. 17

Mississippi State

Shreveport, La.

21-14 L

Sept. 24

SMU

Dallas

31-10 W

Oct. 1

SE Louisiana

Baton Rouge, La.

28-21 W

Oct. 8

Houston

Lafayette, La.

35-14 L

Oct. 14

UTEP

Ruston, La

45-21 L

Oct. 22

Central Florida

Orlando, Fla.

34-24 L

Oct. 29

Marshall

Mobile, Ala.

27-26 L

Nov. 5

Navy

Annapolis, Md.

49-21 L

Nov. 12

Rice

Houston (Rice Stadium)

42-34 L

Nov. 19

Tulsa

Monroe, La.

38-14 L

Nov. 27

Southern Miss

Hattiesburg, Miss.

26-7 L

2006

Sept. 9

Houston

Houston (Robertson Sta.)

45-7 L

Sept. 16

Mississippi State

Starkville, Miss.

32-29 W

Sept. 23

LSU

Baton Rouge,
La.

49-7 L

'It's not easy erasing it (from your mind) when you see it every day still. But we've got to be in tune with what we're trying to accomplish, and that's to win football games. That's important for our guys."

There is a feeling of optimism at Tulane. The Green Wave returned 12 starters from last year's team. Although they're 1-2, those losses were to unbeaten Houston and LSU. They defeated Southeastern Conference opponent Mississippi State.

"I don't know that we've been very consistent," Scelfo said. "We've got to learn to play four quarters, and stay healthy. But we've got real good character and outstanding kids."

And they've finally got a home game, but that doesn't necessarily mean they have a home field advantage.

"We haven't played in the Dome in two years," Scelfo said. "We're not familiar with the Dome, either."

The big question about Michigan coming into the season was whether the rebuilt offensive line would hold up. Has that question been answered?

"I think a little bit. We've been able to run the ball pretty well in the first few games and we've gotten better in pass protection. We still have a lot of work to do on some things we're not doing good enough yet. Right now, we've definitely proven ourselves in the running game."

What are the areas in which you feel the offensive line must improve?

"We're giving up to many sacks and getting Chad (Henne, quarterback) hit too many times. That's a point of emphasis we're working on. We just want to be complete players. I think we're becoming a strength of the team. I think we will be a force."

The Wolverines have gotten off to a fast start after going 7-5 last season. Did you anticipate such a good start?

"I'm not surprised at all. We had a great offseason. We had a bad taste in our mouths after last season and this offseason everybody worked hard and knew what we had to do, so we were fired up for this season. We can be a special team — all of us know that. We have to keep working hard and proving ourselves every week, but I'm not surprised. I have a lot of faith in this team."

Trivia question

Who is E. King Gill? (Answer at the end of the column.)

It's Patrick's Turn(er) at USC

USC All-American receiver Dwayne Jarrett is likely to be sidelined this weekend against Washington State because of a sprained left shoulder. Jarrett's injury should lead to more opportunities for sophomore receiver Patrick Turner.

"I just want to go out and make plays," Turner said.

At 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, Turner is as physically impressive as the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Jarrett, but has a ways to go to match Jarrett's productivity.

Through three games, Jarrett has 20 catches for 207 yards and three touchdowns. Turner has four catches for 28 yards and a touchdown.

"Patrick gives us no reason to think he can't be a significant part of the offense if Dwayne can't go," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "We're losing the all-time touchdown maker in the history of the Pac-10. We're losing a ton."

Hoosiers coach returning to sideline

Indiana's game against Wisconsin on Saturday will be charged with emotion because Hoosiers coach Terry Hoeppner will be back on the sideline.

Hoeppner, who had a tumor removed from his right temple in December, underwent brain surgery again on Sept. 13 after a scan showed a spot in the same area where the tumor was removed. Fortunately, the spot proved to be scar tissue.

"I'm honored to be here," Hoeppner said last week. "I'm honored to be anywhere today."

Indiana is 2-2 and lost games against Southern Illinois and Connecticut while assistant Bill Lynch served as interim head coach.

Quick hitters

Not only does Ohio State now have the nation's second-longest winning streak at 11 (TCU has won 13 in a row), but the Buckeyes have avenged both losses they took a year ago. Last season, Ohio State fell to Penn State 17-10 on Oct. 8. The Buckeyes got even last Saturday with a 28-6 victory. Earlier this season Ohio State defeated Texas, which also beat the Buckeyes last year.

Kenny Irons, who originally attended South Carolina, will be back in the Auburn lineup after sitting out last week's win over Buffalo. The Tigers will also have linebacker Karibi DeDe and cornerback Jonathan Wilhite back in the lineup after a one-game absence when they face South Carolina on Thursday night.

Alabama running back Kenneth Darby was held to 64 yards rushing against Arkansas last week. He ran for a season-high 79 yards against Louisiana-Lafayette. Last season he exceeded that yardage total in 11 of 12 games.

Coming off a team-leading 52 yards rushing in a 14-13 victory over Colorado, Georgia junior Kregg Lumpkin has been named the starting tailback for Saturday's game against Ole Miss. Lumpkin last started in the 2004 Capital One Bowl.

A rash of injuries has Kentucky getting creative in its offensive line. Jason Leger, who earlier moved from defensive tackle to offensive tackle, will start this week at right guard. Trai Williams moves from guard to center to replace the injured Matt McCutchan.

UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said he wants his team to pass more on first down. The Bruins ran on 19 of 24 first-down plays in last week's loss to Washington.

Washington State defensive end Mkristo Bruce set a school record with five sacks last week against Stanford. This week he sets his sights on USC quarterback John David Booty.

Virginia Tech receiver Josh Morgan and defensive end Chris Ellis have been suspended for Saturday's game against Georgia Tech for violating team rules. They were arrested Sunday morning and charged with obstructing a police officer.

Pittsburgh has lost starting defensive end Doug Fulmer for the remainder of the season with a left ankle injury that will require surgery. Also, senior linebacker Tommie Campbell returned to the team after serving a one-game suspension for violating team policy.

Conference USA suspended an unidentified official for overturning a call that was not reviewable. The official overruled a Houston fumble which Oklahoma State recovered citing the runner's forward progress had stopped. Conference USA only allows forward progress to be reviewed to determine first downs.

Utah State offensive coordinator Mike Santiago resigned after a 38-0 loss to Brigham Young. Utah State's only touchdown this season was scored on an interception return. Receivers coach Greg Stevens was named interim offensive coordinator.

San Diego State running back Lynell Hamilton will miss at least the next three games after tearing cartilage in his left knee. The Aztecs are already without starting quarterback Kevin O'Connell, who was injured in the season-opener.

Florida State has lost freshman linebacker Marcus Ball for the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.

Houston offensive tackle SirVincent Rogers tore knee ligaments last Saturday and will miss the rest of the season.

Texas defensive end Brian Robinson left last week's game against Iowa State with a leg injury, but an MRI showed no structural damage. He may be able to play this week. However, coaches may opt to rest him against Division I-AA Sam Houston on Saturday because the Longhorns face rival Oklahoma the following week.